FLAG DAY
(GREETINGS)
THE AMERICAN FLAG SPEAKS IN ECHOES OF THE
PAST – OF THE FOUNDERS OF THIS COUNTRY MAKING
THEIR DEFIANT STATEMENT IN 1776 – “WE HOLD
THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN
ARE CREATED EQUAL WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE
RIGHTS – OF WHICH ARE; LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS."
THE FLAG ECHOES THE CONTINENTAL
CONGRESS OF 1777, IN WHICH THE DELEGATES SAID,
"BE IT RESOLVED: THAT THE FLAG OF THE UNITED
STATES BE THIRTEEN STRIPES, ALTERNATE RED AND
WHITE; THAT THE UNION BE THIRTEEN STARS, WHITE
IN A BLUE FIELD, REPRESENTING A NEW
CONSTELLATION."
THAT CONSTELLATION NOW HAS FIFTY STARS
AND THEY ARE THE BRIGHTEST CONSTELLATION IN
THE GALAXY OF NATIONS.
THE ECHOS CARRY THE SOUNDS OF BATTLE,
DEDICATION, COURAGE, PATRIOTISM, SACRIFICE …
AND VICTORY. THEY CARRY THE SOUNDS OF
FREEDOM – AND THEY CARRY THE SOUND OF THE
BUGLE SOLEMNLY BLOWING TAPS FOR THOSE WHO
PAID THE PRICE FOR THAT FREEDOM.
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SOME HAVE SAID IN RECENT YEARS THAT
PATRIOTISM IS OUT OF STYLE, THAT THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE IS A WASTE OF TIME. WE IN THE VFW
HAVE NEVER FELT THAT WAY.
HOW COULD THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE EVER BE OUT OF STYLE? "WE HOLD
THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT."
HOW CAN THE CONSTITUTION EVER BE OUT OF
STYLE: "WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, IN
ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION,
ESTABLISH JUSTICE, INSURE DOMESTIC
TRANQUILITY, PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE,
PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, AND SECURE
THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND
OUR POSTERITY DO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH THIS
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CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA."
AND WHEN HAS THE BILL OF RIGHTS EVER BEEN
OUT OF STYLE? "THE POWERS NOT DELEGATED TO
THE UNITED STATES BY THE CONSTITUTION, NOR
PROHIBITED BY IT TO THE STATES, ARE RESERVED
TO THE STATES RESPECTIVELY – OR TO THE
PEOPLE."
WHEN HAS FREEDOM EVER BEEN OUT OF
STYLE? THOSE DOCUMENTS; THE DECLARATION,
THE CONSTITUTION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS, WILL
NEVER BE OUT OF STYLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN
THE FEELINGS, THE HOPES AND THE DREAMS OF ALL
PEOPLE FOR ALL TIME.
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THAT FLAG OVER THERE, WHOSE BROAD
STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS REPRESENT THOSE
DOCUMENTS AND THE NATION BASED ON THEM, WILL
NEVER BE OUT OF STYLE AS LONG AS AMERICANS
LOVE FREEDOM AND ARE WILLING TO FIGHT TO
DEFEND IT.
PATRIOTISM IS THE APPRECIATION OF THE
PRINCIPLES ON WHICH OUR COUNTRY IS FOUNDED.
POLITICIANS AND POLICIES MAY COME AND GO, BUT
THE PRINCIPLES OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT
OF HAPPINESS REMAIN THE SAME AND ARE ALWAYS
IN STYLE.
OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FLAG IS
OUR AFFIRMATION THAT WE KNOW WHAT OUR
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COUNTRY STANDS FOR AND OUR CONFIRMATION
THAT WE BELIEVE IN THOSE PRINCIPLES.
PERHAPS, OF ALL THE SPECIAL OCCASIONS WE
CELEBRATE EACH YEAR, FLAG DAY, JUNE 14 STANDS
OUT AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT. WE’RE NOT JUST
HONORING A FLAG, WE ARE HONORING THE
COUNTRY, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WAY OF LIFE
IT REPRESENTS.
FROM TIME TO TIME THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY
OF OUR COUNTRY, MANY MEN AND WOMEN HAVE
BEEN SENT FORTH TO DEFEND THIS COUNTRY. OUR
ORGANIZATION, THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
HAS ALMOST TWO MILLION SUCH PEOPLE IN ITS
RANKS. FOR THEM, THIS DAY HAS VERY SPECIAL
MEANING. BUT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO FIGHT A WAR
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TO PROTECT AMERICA, OR BE A VETERAN TO
APPRECIATE AMERICA … YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE
THE INTEREST IN AMERICA THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE
SHOWN TODAY. YOU ARE THE REAL DEFENDERS OF
AMERICA.
-VFW -
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